As summer wraps up and a new school year begins, Junior Auxiliary (JA) members are now working on two projects to help local students.

Project School Supplies provides school supplies to children in the Russellville School District, kindergarten through fifth grade, who do not have the funds for necessary school supplies. JA will provide school supplies to more than 550 children this year. The supply kits will be assembled by the members and provided to the schools this month.

Backpacks for Commodities is another project in full swing. Each member provides a backpack that is used to transport food to area students in need of weekend food throughout the year. Each member provides approximately 40 backpacks for this project.

JA provided more than 220 volunteer hours of service for the Summer Reading Program and the Summer Arts Camp. At the Pope County Library, members checked in the children, recorded the number of books read and handed out rewards each week.

JA partnered with the River Valley Arts Center for the art camp. Members assisted the art instructor with projects for the kids as well as helping supervise and provide snacks. These programs provide a safe and beneficial environment for children during the summer.

JA represents a serious endeavor on the part of women to be active and constructive community participants. JA requires members to assume leadership roles to meet community needs.

JA is a national nonprofit organization that encourages members to render charitable services that are beneficial to the general public, with a particular emphasis on children.